Voters must decide on 911 telephone surcharge

HILLSDALE — Residents of Hillsdale County will vote next week on whether or not to continue authorizing the county to assess a surcharge on telephones to help fund the 911 emergency service.

The surcharge was last approved in 2009 and according to Hillsdale County Emergency Management Director Doug Sanford, is the most important component in keeping the 911 dispatch service available.

"It is the funding mechanism for 911. We receive no money from the county general fund; we receive no money from a separate fund. We do receive some funds from the state, but as a part of our budget, that is a small part," Sanford said.

If approved, the surcharge would continue from 2015 through 2020. The operational surcharge would allow the county to charge up to $3 per month per telephone line and is estimated to raise more than $1.2 million for the service. While the county could charge up to $3 per month, it has never been higher than $2.25 a month and could drop in the future.

"If things continue and the number of phones remain stable, we don't see that going any higher anytime soon," Sanford said.

Sanford also said the last time voters approved the surcharge in 2009, it helped the HCEM get out of debt to the county and become self-sustaining. The surcharge, combined with grants, helped the HCEM upgrade their equipment and pay the county back for money it borrowed in the past.

If voters were to decline the request to continue the surcharge, Sanford was unsure of what HCEM would do next.

"There's really no extra money to take out of the general fund to support 911. Some difficult decisions would have to be made, but what would happen? I really can't say," Sanford said.

Residents will be able to cast their votes on the surcharge when polls open Tuesday.